H eadlines
Jewish Roanoke
The O. Winston Link Museum along the Roanoke Railwalk downtown
displays amazing photographs of people and their lives at the end of the
steam engine era in the 1950s along the Norfolk and Western Railroad.

Courtesy of Visit Roanoke
Three giant steam locomotives, all built in Roanoke, reside in the
Virginia Museum of Transportation. The one in the center, named
the Spirit of Roanoke, still pulls trains for excursions. The fascinating
museum was a perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon and absorb what
made the city great. 
Photo by Jeff Orenstein
While Roanoke might not be a major Jewish center, the city is more Jewish than many small
to mid-sized cities in this region.

The 2010 U.S. Religious Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study published
by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies indicated Roanoke had two
of the nation’s 3,464 Jewish congregations — Beth Israel (Conservative) and Temple Emanuel
(Reform). It also is home to a Jewish Community Council of Richmond branch and a Jewish
Community Preschool, a joint effort of both congregations.

As the town grew in the 1880s, the first Jews arrived and soon created Beth Jacob congre-
gation. Like many early congregations in the U.S., an influx of both western and eastern
European immigrants eventually led to a split. In 1906, more traditional members left to start
a new Conservative congregation, soon known as Beth Israel and the remaining members
changed their name to Temple Emanuel.

During the boom years following World War II, Jews continued to settle in Roanoke. By
1960, there were 800 in town, although they were excluded from most social clubs and some
other Roanoke organizations. The community dealt with typical antisemitism and exclusion
prevalent in the U.S. at the time even though the civil rights era erased legal Jewish exclusion.

By the last fifth of the 20th century, Jews had become generally well-accepted — and
active — in Roanoke’s social and civic milieu. There has been some evidence of antisemitism
in Roanoke since an isolated act in 1988 and during the last few years, especially after the
Charlottesville incident.

Today, the Jewish population of Roanoke is just over 1,000, and both Jewish congregations
remain vibrant and active and are coping with the pandemic, When Temple Emanuel under-
went major renovation, Beth Israel allowed the congregation to use its space for services. The
temple maintains an active sisterhood, brotherhood, and youth group.

In 2013, Beth Israel had about 160 families. The synagogue’s sisterhood, men’s club and
youth group host a number of different social and charitable events throughout the city. In
2005, the two congregations established the Jewish Community Preschool, which is open to
all children in Roanoke. This communal effort is the latest in a long history of joint activities
between the two congregations.

The Taubmans are a prominent Roanoke Jewish family and Advance Auto Parts, founded
by Arthur Taubman in 1932, is Roanoke’s lone Fortune 500 company. Nick Taubman served
as U.S. ambassador to Romania from 2005-’08. The family has been influential in Roanoke’s
arts community and, in 2008, it made a large donation to what is now known as the Taubman
Museum of Art in downtown Roanoke.

— Jeff and Ginny Orenstein
A CALL FOR HELP
Jonathan Newman is in dire need of a new kidney – and he and his family are
praying he will find an altruistic donor to save his life.

Newman, who is 39, has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a genetic disorder that
took the lives of his grandmother and great-grandmother. Fortunately his mother
and maternal uncle found donors and have gone on to lead healthy lives.

Since this is a genetic problem, and not due to an illness (e.g. diabetes), a do-
nated kidney will not be attacked, and is expected to last many years, if not the
patient’s full life time. It is expected that once Jonathan receives a new kidney,
he will be able to lead a normal life – and enjoy every moment with his wife as
they raise their young son.

Jonathan is currently listed for transplant at University of
Pennsylvania and two other institutions.

For further information, please contact Jonathan Newman’s father, Edward
Newman at enewman591@aol.com or (201) 265-2939.

PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
MAY 27, 2021
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